This report from Murray Wardrop for The Telegraph has a self explanatory title: “Men ‘live longer’ if they marry a younger woman”
A study carried out at Germany’s Max Planck Institute found a positive correlation between a younger bride and a longer lifespan for the husband:
- The man’s risk of premature death drops by 11% if he marries a woman seven to nine years his junior, and
- His chances of dying younger than average fall a whole 20% if his bride is 15 to 17 years younger.
- What’s more, the study found that men who married older women were more likely to die earlier than average.
There are a variety of possible reasons for this. Possibly he’s more motivated to stay in shape to keep his wife interested and loyal.
Maybe she’s more “stimulating” in every sense of the word, and he’s enjoying the heightened physicality (and attractiveness) of his younger partner.
The scientists themselves suggest that only the healthiest, most successful older men are able to attract younger mates in the first place.
But regardless, Danish data from 1990 through to 2005 for the entire population of Denmark supports the correlation between a longer male lifespan and a younger wife.
No doubt the feminists will be
enraged to hear this
According to them it’s sexist for men to be chasing younger ladies, even if the inverse behavior (older women chasing younger men) is “empowering”.
But science definitely provides some biological backing for men being interested in younger women – it’s good for us.
So although it’s unlikely that marrying an 18 year old when you’re 65 will magically add 50% to your expected lifespan, younger women do give you a proven boost.
I’d be quite interested in a study that didn’t examine marriage, but instead looked at dating and/or non-matrimonial relationships. I suspect the same correlation would occur.
It’s Not Sauce For The Goose, Though
The other interesting part of this study is the following:
The results suggest that women do not experience the same benefits of marrying a toy boy or a sugar daddy
The probable reason behind this non-correlation across the gender divide is that women seem to be a lot harder to please (on average) than are men (on average) and women seem to get bored more quickly and easily than men.
Women also overanalyze far more than men do, and that could also detract from the potential benefits to her of having a young mate. Suppose a 65-year-old woman marries a 25-year-old Chippendale dancer … odds are high that in an age gap relationship like this there’s more to the story than just “falling in love”.
I’d wager that she’s very well-off financially and she may also be able to “open doors” in other ways, such as …
- Owning a company or being prominent in show business
- Being in a position to make him the president of the company or to give him big roles in films she has a hand in and
- “Introducing him to the right people” as connections count in business
And she won’t be a dummy … she’ll understand at some level that he’s not just there because of her “inner beauty”. She’ll feel used. She’ll worry that she’s being played for a fool (and will look like a fool to those around her). She’ll question his honesty (e.g. if he says he loves her).
And that will eat at her …
It will be the emotional
equivalent of cancer
Now take a 65-year-old guy who just retired from a CEO position and now has a net worth of $347 million. He marries a hot 25-year-old underwear model from Brazil. Is he a dummy?
Nope, he’ll understand that money and power are an extraordinarily strong aphrodisiac in attracting women. Hell, that’s a big reason why he clawed his way to the top so determinedly. But he (being a man) won’t look at it as her “using” him or her playing him “for a fool”.
That’s because he’ll have another perspective: he’s a lot closer to the end of his days than to the beginning, he has maybe another 10 or 20 years left to enjoy, he’s wealthy and “he can’t take it with him”.
“…
he’ll have another perspective: he’s a lot closer to the end of his days than to the beginning
…”
So he spends on whatever frivolities catch his fancy. A new Ferrari? Why not? A yacht? No problem. A second or third home abutting an exclusive golf and country club? Go for it. Cost is not an object, he can afford it.
And the same holds for marrying a much younger woman. There’s an old quote which says “The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.” That’s how the trophy bride fits into the equation: an expensive toy to be bought and enjoyed … and shown off.
Men can be very practical that way …
We don’t overanalyze nearly as much, after all.
Now the examples I used above were exaggerated to make the point, but a similar dynamic should apply to guys not quite so wealthy. Here’s the logic: if he’s wealthy enough to attract a much younger woman, then that’s wealthy enough (by definition).
And here’s the bottom line:
Guys with a younger woman are more likely to be active because the younger woman is more likely to be active than an elderly woman. So, doing things together would mean he’ll get more exercise.
Guys with younger women are likely to be getting laid more (for obvious reasons … he’ll WANT to get laid more). That’s exercise too and should add to his health and therefore his longevity. Good for the body and “good for the soul”.
A 65-year-old guy with a 65-year-old wife who’s been married for 45 years will have been worn down by 45 years of nagging, fighting with her and so on. And frequent stress weakens the immune system.
By contrast, a 27-year old wife that he’s been married for five years to won’t have that same amount of cumulative history with him. And she’s apt to treat him fairly well since she won’t be stuck with him for the rest of her life. She knows it won’t be all that many years with him and then she’ll be on easy street the rest of her life … as long as she doesn’t rock the boat.
“…
there’s a separate factor that’s causing both his longer life AND his ability to attract a much younger mate
…”
Rich people tend to be measurably happier than poorer people. And the fact that a guy is prosperous enough to attract a much younger wife suggests that (on average) he may be better off than guys who still have the old wife.
So it may be that there’s a separate factor (his relatively greater wealth) that’s causing both his longer life AND his ability to attract a much younger mate (rather than having a younger mate being the sole cause of this).
But either way, don’t feel guilty about any interests you may have in younger women. Science proves that it’s good for you!
Until next time,
Nick Thomas
